Plastic drum liner with convertible top feature



y 1969 R. A. DUBOIS ETAL 3,445,031

PLASTIC DRUM LINER WITH CONVERTIBLE TOP FEATURE Filed April 16. 1968 Sheet 013 INVENTORS 205547 A. 0060 5 h/lYl 1441 H- awn/44w May 20, 1969 A. DUBOIS ETAL v PLASTIC DRUM LINER WITH CONVERTIBLE TOP FEATURE Filed April 16, 1968 Sheet FIG. 4

INVENTORS Ross/FT 4- 0080/:

w. 1. MM mraun ATTORNEYS May 20, 1969 R. A. DUBOIS ETAL 3,445,031

PLASTIC DRUM LINER WITH CONVERTIBLE TOP FEATURE Filed April 16, 1968 Sheet 3 of a INVENTOR- 2035/97 4. Rudd/.5 WILL/AM H- GUS/ldlfl ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 220-63 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plastic liner for drums which is supplied in a completely sealed condition and has at least one integral accordion-like projection circumferentially disposed about the side wall adjacent the top and extending outwardly from the side wall. The diameter of the liner at the interfaces between the accordion-like projection and side wall, both distal and proximal the top, is less than the diameter of the reinforcing band or chime at the top of the drum with which the liner is to be ultimately associated so that when the liner is inserted in the drum and the accordion pleat is down-turned over the reinforcing band, the constrictive effect of the interfaces will secure the liner to the drum. The liner may then be converted from a completely sealed to an open top condition by severing the top from the side wall along the apex of the accordion pleat and the lower portion of the liner will remain secured to the reinforcing band thereby preventing the liner from falling into the interior of the drum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One recent trend in shipping and storage practices is to utilize plastic lined drums. Drums of this type are desirable because they are inexpensive and lightweight and also because the plastic linings have numerous adherent advantages and characteristics such as imperviousness and chemical inertness. The outer shell of the drum may be made from fibrous material or may be metallic.

The prior art drum liners basically fall into two categories, hose having open tops and those having closed tops. Open top liners, as the name implies, have completely open top ends and thus are particularly well suited for shipping and storing solids and highly viscous fluids since the open end facilitates the filling and removal of these materials. On the other hand, this type of drum liner is not suitable for use with low viscosity fluids because of the difficulties and particularly waste that would be encountered in removing such fluids from the drum. The top of the alternative prior art liner, namely the closed top liner, is completely sealed but may be provided with vent and pouring neck openings. It can readily be appreciated that this type of drum liner is most suitable for storing and shipping low viscosity fluids while being most ill-suited for shipping and storing solids and semiliquids.

A great many products such as certain chemicals, dyes, food-stufis, coatings adhesives and so forth are manufactured in a liquid or semi-liquid state but thicken or solidify at a latter time. The manufacturers of such products have heretofore been forced to choose between open top containers and closed top containers each having certain adherent advantages and disadvantages over the other, but neither being particularly well suited for the entire task. The prior art closed top liner could not be converted into a completely open top liner merely by cutting away the top because if this were done the liner 3,445,031 Patented May 20, 1969 "ice would tend to fall into the interior of the drum since the liners must be secured to the drum along the top peripheral edge. The prior art liner could be converted into less than a fully open top by leaving a rim along the periphery of the top opening to secure the liner, but such a rim would hamper the complete removal of the drum contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved plastic drum liner which has a convertible top thus providing the user with a leak-tight one-piece liner for initial use in shipment which at any time may be converted into a fully open top liner.

A further object is to provide a liner which is completely supported from the reinforcing band or chime of the drum with which it is associated during both modes of operation so that there is never a danger of the liner falling into the interior of the drum.

These and other objects and advantages are most eifectively attained by providing a drum comprising a tubular outer shell having a bottom closure afiixed to one end, a reinforcing band or chime disposed about the opposite end, and a removable top closure having means thereon for cooperating with the reinforcing band in sealing the drum with a one-piece plastic liner having a lower portion defined by tubular side walls and a bottom and integrally connected to an upper portion including a top. The lower portion includes integral means thereon for securing portions thereof to the reinforcing band of the outer shell. The securing means are independent of the continuity of the upper and lower portions so that if the upper portion of the lining were severed from the lower portion, the lower portion would remain secured to the reinforcing band and would not fall into the interior of the drum, even after portions or the entire contents of the drum is emptied. The integral securing means of the convertible liner of the present invention includes at least one accordion-like projecting fold circumferentially disposed about the tubular side wall of the liner adjacent the top. The accordion-like told is comprised of two circumferential sections integral with the side wall and inclined to the longitudinal axis of the wall. The sections project outwardly from the side wall and meet at an apex rim. The diameter of the side wall at the base rim of each projecting section, that is the interface of the section and the wall, is less than the outside diameter of the outer shell of the drum with which the liner is to be associated. Thus, in use the liner may be placed inside a hollow drum of the type described. Initially, the side walls and bottom of the liner will be in substantial surface to surface contact with the interior surfaces of the bottom and outer shell of the drum, and the entire accordion pleat extends beyond the top of the drum shell. The lower base of the accordion pleat is located above the top of the drum substantially the same distance that the reinforcing band extends below the upper peripheral edge of the drum. Thus, when downward and outward force is applied on the accordion pleat, it will cause both bases thereof to temporarily expand and override the reinforcing band of the drum. After the force is removed, the bases will contact so as to engage the outer surface of the drum below the reinforcing band in a constrictive fit. At this time, both base rims, that is the rim distal and the rim proximal the top of the liner, cooperate in securing the liner to the drum. However, it can readily be appreciated that if the upper portion of the liner, located above the apex of the accordion-like fold, is severed from the remaining lower portion, the lower portion would still be secured to the drum body the lower base rim and thus the remaining portions of the liner would be prevented from falling into the drum as the contents of the drum were removed. The base rims may be in the form of arcuate grooves, the diameter of the lower groove, that is the groove associated with the inclined section distal the top, being slightly larger than that of the upper groove so that after the pleat is down-turned, the upper groove will conveniently nestle in the lower groove. Also, the top portion of the liner may be provided with means for securing it to inner surfaces of the associated drum top closure so that even after the liner has been converted from closed top to open top, the drum can be rescaled and would be entirely lined.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional line view along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view oft he drum of FIG. 1 with top cover of the drum removed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational sectional view of the plastic liner of the present invention, used in conjunction with a metallic drum, depicting the accordion pleat extending over the top of the drum;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 after the accordion pleat is down-turned over the reinforcing band of the drum;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the upper and lower portions of the plastic liner after severance of the two, depicting the means for securing the lower portion of the liner to the drum after severance;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational sectional view similar to FIG. 4 depicting the liner used in conjunction with a fiber drum having a reinforcing chime disposed about the upper end thereof;

FIG. 8 is an elevational sectional view similar to FIG. 5 for the alternate embodiment of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 for the alternate embodiment of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to FIG. 1 in particular in which a drum 10 is shown comprising a tubular outer shell 12 and having a plastic liner 14. The outer shell 12 may be manufactured from any material having the requisite degree of rigidity and strength. The primary embodiment of FIG. 4 depicts a metallic outer shell 12 and the alternate embodiment of FIG. 7 depicts a pressed fiber outer shell 12.

The bottom end of the shell 12 is provided with a permanently attached closure 16 and the upper end with a removal cover 18, the cover 18 may be provided with openings therein through which a threaded pouring neck 20 and vent neck 22 protrude. The necks 20 and 22 are integral with the top 24 of the liner 14 and define openings therein into the interior of the drum 10. Threaded closures 26 and 28 may be provided for sealing the pouring and vent necks 2G and 22.

Referring now to the primary embodiment of FIG. 4, a steel or other metallic drum is depicted as having a reinforcing band or lip 30 formed by the downward external bending of the upper peripheral edge 32 of the shell 12. A retaining groove 34 is formed at the interface of the downwardly turned upper peripheral edge 32 and the external surface of the shell 36 a short distance below the upper end 38 of the shell.

A fiber drum is depicted in the alternative embodiment of FIG. 7. The end portions of the fiber drum may be strengthened by providing upper and lower metallic reinforcing chimes 40 about both the upper and lower ends of the shell 12. In the associated drawings, only the upper reinforcing chime 40 is depicted. As seen most clearly in FIG. 7, the chime 40 is initially fitted tightly about the shell 12 and extends from a spaced distance below the upper end 42 of the outer surface 44 upwardly and overlaps the top and, at the same time, projects downwardly for a short distance into the interior of the shell. A short distance from the upper end 42 of the shell 12, the fiber body and the metal reinforcing chime 40 are deformed inwardly so as to provide an external retaining groove 46 and internal shoulder 48. The reinforcing band 30 of the metallic drum 12 and the external groove 46 of the fiber drum 12 cooperate with corresponding surfaces on the respective covers 18 in securing the cover 18 to the drum.

The liner 14 may be manufactured in any convenient manner but is preferably blow-molded from extruded thermoplastic material having the desired characteristics governed by the intended use of the finished drum 10 and the nature of the compound to be contained therein. These thermoplastic materials may include polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and the like to mention a few. The liner of the present invention comprises a substantially tubular member having a lower portion comprised of a bottom closure 50 (depicted only in FIG. 1) aflixed to side walls 52. The bottom closure 50 and side walls 52 of the liner 14 are in substantial surface to surface relationship with the internal surfaces of the bottom closure 16 and the outer shell 12 of the drum 10. Integral with the side walls 52 is an upper portion 54 initially extending some distance above the top peripheral edge of the shell 12 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. Interposed between the side walls 52 and the upper portion 54 is at least one accordion pleat 56 extending outwardly from the side wall 52 and terminating on the side wall 52 at bases comprising inwardly deformed rims or grooves 58 and 60. The accordion pleat is comprised of two circumferential sections 62 and 64 integral with the side wall and inclinecl to the longitudinal axis of the Wall, the sections 62 and 64 project outwardly from the side wall and meet at an apex rim 66. The diameter of the liner 14 at the inwardly deformed grooves 58 and 60 is substantially less than the outside diameter of the shell 12.

The upper portion 54 of the liner 14 includes a top portion 68 which is integral with the side walls 52 and spaced a short distance above the upper inwardly deformed groove 60. As was previously stated, the top portion 68 may be provided with integral pour and vent necks 20 and 22. The top portion 68 of the liner 14 which will ultimately line the inner surfaces of the drum cover 18, is provided with a multiplicity of concentric ridgelike deformations 72 coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the liner. The diameter of the drum cover 18 is slightly larger than the diameter of the top portion 68 of the liner, however, the ridge-like deformation 72 enable the top portion 68 to be expanded to accommodate the cover and thereafter relax to secure the top of the liner to the inner surface of the cover. Deformations 70 are interposed between the upper inwardly deformed groove 60 and the liner top 68 to accommodate the peripheral edge of the cover 18 and cooperate in securing the top of the liner 68 to the cover 18. The deformations 70 which initially extend inwardly and outwardly from the side wall 52 are forced upward and over the peripheral edge of the cover 18 when the cover is positioned on top of the drum thus forming a pocket 74 into which the cover 18 is secured. This is best seen in FIG. 2. It can readily be appreciated that the cover 18 will have difiering edge contours for the preferred and alternate embodiments, since the upper peripheral edge of the outer shell 12 of the primary embodiment differs from the upper peripheral edge of the alternate embodiment and, therefore, the contours of the deformations 70a and 70b will similarly differ.

In use, after the liner 14 is placed inside the shell 12, the projecting surfaces 62 and 64 making up the accordion pleat 56 are forced outwardly and downwardly over the top peripheral edge of the drum so that the inwardly deformed grooves 58 and 60 are forced into the retaining groove 34 of the primary embodiment (or retaining groove 46 of the alternate embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, respectively). As was previously described, the cover 18 may then be placed within the pocket 74 that will form upon the top surface of the liner and the drum can be sealed as depicted in the line drawing of FIG. 2. The sealed drum could then be filled with any viscous compound through the pouring neck 20. In due time, such as after shipping or storage, after the contained compounds will have set or solidified to some extent so as to make pouring an infeasible method of removing the contents from the drum, the upper portion 76 of the liner 14 may be severed from the lower portion 78 simply by cutting along the apex rim 66 of the pleat. When this is done, the upper portion 76 of the liner 14, which will still be afiixed to the cover 18 of the drum, may be removed and the contents of the container easily scooped out. Since the lower groove 58 of the liner 14 is still firmly engaged by the retaining groove of the drum, there is no danger of the liner 14 falling into the container interior. The severed liner of the preferred and alternate embodiments is depicted in FIGS. 6 and 9, respectively. After removing the desired quantity of compound from the drum, the upper portion 76 with its secured drum cover 18, may be replaced over the drum and the inner surfaces of the drum will again be completely lined.

It will thus be seen that the aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. It will also be realized that although specific embodiments of my invention have been described and illustrated, various changes therein will become evident to one skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. An improved drum comprising: an outer shell having a bottom closure fixed to one end; reinforcing means disposed about the opposite end; a removable top closure having means thereon for cooperating with portions of the outer shell in sealing said drum; and a one-piece plastic liner having side walls and a bottom afiixed to one end, a top affixed to the opposite end, and integral means interposed between said top and side walls for securing portions of the liner to the outer shell, said securing means being independent of the continuity of the side walls and top so as to be able to secure portions of the side wall to the outer shell even after the top is severed from the side walls.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said liner includes at least one outwardly extending accordion pleat circumferentially disposed about the side walls, said pleat terminating in at least one circumferential groove, the diameter of the liner at the groove being less than the diameter of the outer shell, so as to enable said groove to act as a constriction when forced over the reinforcing means and thereby secure said liner to said outer shell.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said liner top includes integral means thereon for securing portions thereof to said top closure.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein said securing means comprises at least one ridge-like deformation coaxial with the liner top.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein said securing means includes a multiplicity of coaxial ridge-like deformations, the diameter of the top closure of the drum is greater than the diameter of the liner top and the deformations enable the liner top to be stretched over the top closure and to relax to secure said top closure to the liner top.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outer shell is made of metal and said reinforcing means comprises a band formed by downwardly turning the upper peripheral edge of said shell.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outer shell is made of fiber and the reinforcing means comprises a metal chime disposed about the upper peripheral edge of said shell, said chime extending from a spaced distance below the upper end of the outer surface of the shell outwardly and overlapping the top and, at the same time, projecting downwardly for a short distance into the interior of the shell, wherein said fiber body and chime are deformed inwardly so as to provide an external groove a short distance from the upper end of the shell.

8. A one-piece plastic drum liner having side walls and a bottom afiixed to one end, a top affixed to the opposite end, and integral means interposed between said top and side walls for securing portions of said liner to a drum with which the liner is to be ultimately associated, wherein said securing means are independent of the continuity of the side walls and top so as to be able to secure portions of the side wall to the drum even after the top is severed from the side wall.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein said liner includes at least one outwardly extending accordion pleat circumferentially disposed about the side walls; said pleat terminating in at least one circumferential groove, the diameter of the liner at the groovebeing less than the diameter of the outer shell of the drum with which the liner is to be associated, so as to enable said groove to act as a constriction when forced over and around the drum and thereby secure said liner to said drum.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein said liner top includes integral means thereon for securing portions thereof to a top closure for the drum with which said liner is to be ultimately associated.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein said securing means comprises at least one ridge-like deformation coaxial with the liner top.

12. The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein said securing means includes a multiplicity of coaxial ridge-like deformations and the diameter of the top closure of the drum with which said liner is to be ultimately associated and the deformations enable the liner top to be stretched over the top closure and relax to secure said top closure to the liner top.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,025,932 12/1935 Beldin 220-63 2,321,836 6/1943 Marzo 220-63 X 2,727,673 12/1955 Bergstrom 22063 X 2,912,136 11/1959 Redmond et al 220-63 2,989,208 6/1961 Gibbs 220-63 X FOREIGN PATENTS 621,745 6/1961 Canada.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

I. R. GARRETT, Assistant Examiner.

US. or. X.R. 

